Gatsby

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Extended Character Analysis

Jay Gatsby embodies the American Dream, ascending from poverty to a station of immense wealth. He is born James Gatz and grows up on his family’s farm in the midwest. He attends college in Minnesota, working as a janitor to pay his tuition, until he meets Dan Cody, a wealthy gold miner. Cody takes Gatsby under his wing, mentoring him and introducing him to the lure of wealth and materialism. Gatsby remains Cody’s protege until Cody’s death, at which point Gatsby joins the army. 

While stationed in Alabama, Gatsby meets Daisy Fay and immediately falls in love with her. Meeting Daisy only serves to enhance his fixation on wealth. After leaving to serve in the war and returning to build a bootlegging and drug-smuggling empire, he remains fixated on Daisy, who has since married Tom Buchanan. Gatsby ultimately comes to believe that only reclaiming Daisy’s love will fill the emptiness in his life. Rather than viewing Daisy as an independent person with a life and goals of her own, Gatsby instead treats her as a possession that was stolen away from him by life’s circumstances. He is unable to comprehend—or rather, unwilling to admit—that Daisy could be capable of loving another man. 

Gatsby displays an intense desire to be the sole recipient of Daisy’s love. Not only does he ask Daisy to leave Tom, he also insists that she admits to never having loved him at all. In a broader sense, life’s complexities and nuances are largely lost on Gatsby, whose single-minded fixation on his material and romantic goals is the product of a life otherwise devoid of meaning and connection. At his core, Gatsby leads an empty existence, reliant on external factors for his happiness and fulfilment. For him, satisfaction is not gleaned from the acquisition of his goals, but rather from the endless pursuit of them. He is a dreamer first and foremost, forever driven to strive for more whenever a new benchmark is reached. 

Gatsby represents the American Dream itself, flashy and alluring, but ultimately made of empty promises. No matter how hard Gatsby works, he will never truly obtain inner fulfilment because the American Dream has externalized happiness, framing it as something that can be bought. Gatsby is disconnected from the reality that the rest of the characters live in, one which is defined by the limitations of gender and class. 

However, for all the ways Gatsby is disconnected from reality, his insulation is also what draws people like Daisy and Nick to him. Jay Gatsby ignores others’ notions of limitation. Instead, he continues to dream and strives to make his dreams into reality. For Daisy, with her abusive husband and cynical attitude about her place in the world, Gatsby is a fantasy she can escape into. He is the hopelessly devoted romantic who fought his way to the top just for her. For Nick, who craves authenticity in a world that seems to lack it, there is an earnestness in Gatsby’s motivations that transcends the superficiality of his actions. However, for both Daisy and Nick, Gatsby’s dream is a form of escapism, not something they genuinely believe in. Ultimately, Gatsby’s ideals are shattered, and he is left alone, disillusioned and unable to come to terms with the fact that his dreams were built on lies. 

Time also plays a significant role in Gatsby’s characterization, specifically his inability to live in the present. As a child, he continuously strode towards an indeterminate future where he could escape poverty. His youth was spent chasing after money and status, desperately rejecting his humble upbringings in favor of rewriting his history to align with the future he sought. However, upon achieving his goals, he is left dissatisfied. So, rather than attempting to find happiness in the present, Gatsby turns back to the past, hoping that rekindling his relationship with Daisy will fulfill him. This proves to be a fool’s errand. Whereas the future is always moving closer, the past is always moving further away. No matter how hard Gatsby tries to recreate the past, true happiness does not dwell there and, indeed, never did. Unwilling to embrace the present, increasingly disillusioned with the future, and desperately chasing after the unobtainable past, Gatsby is left to stagnate, shot dead in the unmoving currents of a swimming pool. Gatsby remains a figurehead for human aspiration, an American Icarus in whose life one finds both the lofty heights of dreams and the inevitable tragedy of their fall.

Expert Q&A

What does Gatsby mean when he says Daisy's voice is "full of money"?

When Gatsby says Daisy's voice is "full of money," he means that one can sense her wealth and privilege just from hearing her speak. The beautiful Daisy has always lived a life of luxury, facing no consequences for her words or actions. Daisy's manner of speaking (which Nick calls "indiscreet") reflects her privileged position in society.

What does the Chicago phone call reveal about Gatsby's business?

The Chicago phone call in Chapter 9 of "The Great Gatsby" reveals that Gatsby's business was more involved in organized crime than initially thought. A man named Slagle, unaware of Gatsby's death, reports Young Parke's arrest for handing over numbered bonds, implying Gatsby's involvement in a criminal network beyond bootlegging. The call confirms Gatsby's deep ties with the criminal underground, supporting Tom Buchanan's suspicions of his sinister business dealings.

In The Great Gatsby, why does Gatsby think Daisy didn't enjoy the party?

In "The Great Gatsby", Gatsby believes Daisy didn't enjoy his party due to her apparent discomfort and criticism of the guests and the setting. Her lack of enjoyment is also inferred from the fact that the party didn't lead to the outcome Gatsby desired, which was for Daisy to declare she never loved Tom. This unmet expectation, combined with Daisy's visible unease, leads Gatsby to conclude that she didn't have a good time.

What quote shows that Gatsby throws parties hoping Daisy will attend?

A quote that shows Gatsby throws parties hoping Daisy will attend is from Chapter Four: "He had waited five years and bought a mansion where he dispensed starlight to casual moths--so that he could come over some afternoon to a stranger's garden." This indicates Gatsby's intent to attract Daisy's attention through his lavish parties.

What is the conflict between Gatsby and Tom Buchanan in The Great Gatsby?

The conflict between Gatsby and Tom Buchanan in The Great Gatsby revolves around Daisy and class differences. Tom, representing traditional, old money, sees Daisy as his possession and is shocked by her involvement with Gatsby. Gatsby, a self-made man with new money, seeks to rekindle his romance with Daisy. Their rivalry is fueled by Tom's disdain for Gatsby's background and Gatsby's desire for Daisy's love.

Does Gatsby objectify Daisy in The Great Gatsby? If so, how?

Yes, Gatsby objectifies Daisy by viewing her as a symbol of wealth, status, and the ideal of the American Dream rather than as a real person with her own qualities. He is captivated by her luxurious lifestyle and combines his dream of wealth with his perception of her, losing sight of her true humanity. This objectification is evident in his disappointment when Daisy doesn't live up to his idealized image of her.

What are some examples of naivete in The Great Gatsby?

Naivete in The Great Gatsby is primarily embodied by Jay Gatsby, who believes he can win Daisy's love through wealth acquired by illegal means, disregarding the social barriers and Daisy's own preferences. His assumption that material wealth alone can fulfill his dreams is naive. Additionally, Tom Buchanan's belief in Daisy's fidelity despite his infidelities, George Wilson's ignorance of his wife's infidelity, and Gatsby's father's belief in his son's honorable wealth further exemplify naivete in the novel.

What is Gatsby's intention in introducing Nick to Wolfsheim in The Great Gatsby, and is it successful?

In The Great Gatsby, when Gatsby introduces Nick Carraway to Meyer Wolfsheim, in chapter 4, he does so as part of his efforts to convince Nick that he is a good and trustworthy person. Gatsby needs Nick to trust him, and to think well of him, because he needs Nick's help to reunite with Daisy.

The significance of Gatsby's sacrifice upon kissing Daisy

Gatsby's sacrifice upon kissing Daisy signifies his commitment to an idealized vision of love and success. This moment represents his willingness to abandon his previous identity and aspirations to fully embrace the dream of being with Daisy, even if it means living in a world of illusion and unattainable expectations.

Disillusionment and Loss of Innocence in The Great Gatsby

In The Great Gatsby, disillusionment and loss of innocence are central themes. Disillusionment is portrayed through revelations about Gatsby's true identity and the superficiality of his parties, leading to characters' disenchantment with wealth and status. Minor examples include Nick's realization of the shallowness of East Coast society and Gatsby's uncut books, symbolizing his fabricated persona. Loss of innocence is reflected in the characters' experiences, such as Nick's disillusionment with high society, Daisy's unhappy marriage, and Tom's shock at Daisy's affair. These themes underscore the novel's critique of the American Dream.

Nick's description of Gatsby as "the son of God" in The Great Gatsby

Nick's description of Gatsby as "the son of God" in The Great Gatsby highlights Gatsby's self-perception as destined for greatness. This comparison emphasizes Gatsby's relentless ambition and his creation of a new identity to rise above his humble origins, suggesting a divine-like determination to fulfill his dreams.

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